I was amazed to learn that a Mercedes-Benz W196 race car driven by legendary driver Juan Fangio during the mid-1950’s has been sold for a new world record price.
The previous record price for a car sold at auction was $15 million – the equivalent price of the W196 is about $29,659,000.
The car was sold to a telephone bidder, whose identity hasn’t been revealed. Bonhams confirmed that there were 11 bidders in total, with three in the room at Goodwood and eight telephone bidders, the majority of which were from the US.
There’s more at the link. Here’s a video report about the car.
Thirty million dollars for a vintage automobile – one that probably won’t be driven at all, or at least not very far! Verily, the mind doth boggle . . .
Peter
Does that mean the economy has improved? Or just that those greedy capitalists are now just squandering our money? Sigh, at leas the goober that bought the car; is helping out the economy by distributing his money.
Steve
I'd say maybe Jay Leno, but I doubt that his pockets are that deep-though he has some nice stuff.
WOW… And sadly the car will probably never be seen in public again…
Love those cars from back when "the tires were skinny and the drivers were fat".